Do Business Well

Perhaps one of the best examples of caring for employees is Raymond Ackerman, who credits part of his success to his good relationship with them. He has always attempted to pay the highest wages and provide the best working conditions in the retail business. He celebrated his sixtieth birthday by sending cake to every one of Pick ‘n Pay’s 27 000 employees!

Keep out the red tape where possible - high achievers are intensely demotivated by it. If you nit-pick about unimportant aspects like taking leave you are on a losing wicket. Continue Reading »

2 Comments »

If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.

The more you learn, the more you realize how little you know. I have found it very interesting that the opposite also seems to be true: the less you learn, the more you think you know. As the saying goes, ignorance and arrogance go hand in hand. If we’re not working on ourselves, we don’t realize the wealth of knowledge out there waiting for us. We are living in the information age, and if you don’t spend time learning, keeping up with technology, and increasing your knowledge base, you will fall so far behind that it will be extremely difficult to catch up. Knowledge is the key to success in today’s world. Studies consistently demonstrate that those who are learning and growing every day are more successful and optimistic about life. Continue Reading »

2 Comments »

I’d say now is the time to take a careful look at your personal development program. Are there ways it can be enhanced? Every day, you are either learning or deteriorating. You are either closer to or farther away from your goals. Learn to model the best in your field. Find those who excel in your industry and benchmark what will work for you. Pay the price to become an expert in your field. Continue Reading »

2 Comments »

Many of us know what we want, but we still don’t take the necessary steps to get it. Even when we want it very badly, we often give ourselves as many hoops to jump through as possible to put off the most painful or difficult steps. We desperately want to achieve our goals and dreams, and yet we use avoidance behavior to protect ourselves from our irrational fears. We want the perks without paying the price. We want improved circumstances without improving ourselves. We live each day waiting and dreaming and hoping for the stars to line up in our favor or for the winning lottery number. If this describes you, it’s time to take a long, serious look in the mirror. That day will never come while you’re waiting. It will only come when you bite the bullet and do what has to be done. I love what Richard Taylor, author of The Disciplined Life, has to say about this: Continue Reading »

2 Comments »

Think back to a time in your life when you had to do without some aspect of the security that so many people today take for granted: comprehensive health insurance coverage, a reliable car that starts on the first try, a regular paycheck. How well were you able to deal with the situation? Continue Reading »

2 Comments »

1. How often do you reach your personal and career goals within the time you have specified for them? How do you react when you are late?
2. Describe an instance when you’ve had to do whatever it took in order to fulfill a promise. Would you be willing to go to similar lengths when running your business? Come up with a hypothetical situation in your business where you would not want to go out on a limb. How would you handle it instead?

Continue Reading »

3 Comments »

If you ask around, you’ll find that most of your friends, family, and even office colleagues would like to run their own businesses. If you then ask them why they aren’t currently self-employed, or why they haven’t even begun to plan their venture, you’ll probably uncover a litany of excuses, from a lack of time to a chronically overdrawn checking account to simply not knowing what to do first. Continue Reading »

2 Comments »

Personality factor: Impulsivity

Most personality traits are present to some degree in all of us. ‘Impulsivity’ is one such trait — the degree to which we have difficulty refraining from acting on our impulses. If your Other has a history of impulsive violence, then she may be unable to tolerate the stress of the Dialogue without violent outburst. You may not wish to risk provoking physical violence. In particular, people who have been physically injured by their spouses or another individual in the past should probably not use the Method with that person. Instead, counselling and/or legal remedies are advised. Continue Reading »

2 Comments »

The Clashes arising from differences in most relationships can be managed satisfactorily by this Method. Some conflicts, however, lack certain requirements necessary for success.

Personality Factors

When involved in ‘personality clashes’, we often conclude that the conflict is irresolvable due to the Other’s personality — the Bad-Person Illusion. In truth, certain personality factors can indeed impinge on the Method, making it less effective. So, some relevant personality factors will be mentioned as we list the eight prerequisites. Continue Reading »

2 Comments »

Low-Skill Mediation?

Many people are surprised by how little skill and knowledge are required of the mediator. Surprise may arise from the popular belief that the mediator’s personal abilities account for more of the results of mediation than is argued here.

On a cautionary note, however, I recommend that you at least be experienced in using the 4-Step Method in ’self-mediation‘ before undertaking a third-party effort. Although it is simple to understand, pitfalls can trip the new mediator that only experience can teach her to avoid. Continue Reading »

3 Comments »